St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-19
A QUEER STORY.
How a New York Woman Was In


Here is another authentic instance of
supernatural manifestation which may
be added to the ever-swelling evidence
that daily appears to prove the existence
OF a world of spirits among us, who.
though usually invisible, are capable of
becoming materialiZed in such strange
ways that when least expected they
sometimes appear. Mrs. James COnbro
rented modest but comfortable fiat at
No. 22S1 East One Hundred and Twenty
ninth street in New York. She is a
Scotch woman, and probably natural
medium it would seem from the event
about to be related, but if she is she
does not know her strange power fully.
She is married, but childleSs. A few
nights ago while waiting for her huS-
bands return she neglected to light the
gas, but sat in the growing darkness in
the little front parlOr of her flat. A fire
OF camel was burning on the CRATE,
but not brightly; now and then fitful
blaze lighted the room from it, only to
be the darker when it died away. In
the absence of other employment she
was figuring up in her head the various
expenses of her household for the past
month. Surely such an occupation
would seem far from inviting to ghOstly
fancies, and the fact that she was so en-
gagged gives additional strength to the
story. AS she repeated aloud, Trent,
S25: gas, say-well, S10;" that's very
hlgh," interrupted voice just beside
her-a voice that seemed unnatural in
some peculiar way, but whether in tone
or pitch or what Mrs. COnbro could not
say. Il never paid as much, and l used
it to yentilate the rOom." ITO what?"
said Mrs. c., who had turned around to
face the speaker, whom she supposed to
be visiting neighbOr, who had entered
unannOunced, or without knocking"
as she said to the correspondent when
telling about the occurrence. The per-
son she saw was very certainly no
neighbor of hers. 1t was 0woman of
tall stature, richly dressed in white
silk, lOw-cut-neck dress, with short
sleeves, her beautiful breast and
arms being naked. About her
neck hung splendid necklace of
diamonds, and several gems of pur-
est water flashed in her rich blonde hair
A veil like a BRIDES was flung from her
face over the left shoulder, and with
her long hair hung down her back, and
seemed to trail on the floor with the
satin demi-train of her elaborate toilet.
Her face was deathly pale, and her eyes
Sunken in deep, cavernouS sockets.
Her cheeks were Sunken. and her chin
she seemed to be trying to support with
herright hand. What could she be?
Where did she come from? Mrs. Con-
bro rubbed her eyes and looked again.
Yes, no doubt of it, a splendidly dressed
woman or Specter stood there.
''WhO are yOu?" said Mrs. Conbro. 81
am Augusta Won HOltZ that was, who
married Charley Martin against my
fathers wishes, and with him fled from
Germany. My father cursed me, cut
me off. never fOrgave me, and | found
could not live in my heart together. /
went mad. | dressed myself in my
bridal dress and lay down in this very
room with my baby, having first turned
on the gas, and | died. Oh. God, for
give me! Oh, woman, pray for my poor
soul. if you have heart. Since my
death | have suffered an age of horror
and regret and darkness without hope.
Do not be afraid of me. | would not
hurt you. But [ must CO." Even
before she had ceased speak
ing she vanished before the very eyes
of Mrs. Conbro, who was Mortified be-
yOnd measure. Shortly afterward the
neighbor having the fiat above came
down and knocked. She had come to
borrow drawing of tea for their sup
per. Mrs. COnbrO told her what had hap
pened. The neighbOr was much sur
prised, but said at once; ''It must have
been Mrs. Martins ghost; she used to
occupy this fiat. and one day she killed
herself and child. just as she told you,
by gas SuffOcatiOn. She used to be
very strange woman. No one in the
place was on good terms with her: she
was so proud and naughty. She used to
dress up in fine clothes so as to let the
neighbOrS see her so as to make them
enviOus, and it was just about year
ago-'twas just before Christmas-she
closed the doors and windows of this
room and put on her wedding dress.
Then taking the baby to her breast Git
was twO-monthS-Old child, she turned
OH the gas and lay down on the bed,
where she and the dear little child were
found dead by her husband, who was
a fine young man, doing the best he
knew how for the family. Poor fellow,
He was awfully broken up by the blow.
He found the following letter, which
was written in German:
"'Dear Papa: Please let me sleep,
am so tired. Forgive me. Charles. Your
devoted wife, AUGUSTA
1.-The fiat has been said to be haunted
ever since her death, but no ghost was
seen in it before" Mrs. COnbro was
much shaken up by the occurrence, and
is getting ready to move again.
The New York correspondent of the
Cincinnati Enquirer is authority for this
story.